Technology in Motion

Reevaluating the definition of performance.

What It Really Means to be Green

When it comes to the environment, green is convenient shorthand for saying,"I get it." But its currency may be devalued because of overuse. Too often, it's simplistic cover for a reality in which the solutions to the daunting environmental challenges ahead are increasingly complex. There is no silver bullet.

This is especially true when it comes to the automobile, the design of which is being driven largely by environmental concerns. So instead of looking at this future as "green," we see a technology evolving in different ways to address specific problems. It truly is Technology in Motion. There will be no one-size-fits-all solution.

The result? Showrooms will be filled with a dazzling array of cars featuring more powertrain choices than ever before — even more than were offered in the auto's infancy when the race was on among gas, electric and steam power. The new options include hybrids, both traditional and plug-in, electric vehicles and fuel cells running on hydrogen. That doesn't mean traditional internal combustion engines are giving up the ghost. Computer controls, biofuels and direct injection have given new life to gasoline and diesel technologies.

This focus on Technology in Motion is one way to understand the wide range of alternatives that are available now or on the horizon, enabling you to decide what works best for you. Being green doesn't necessarily mean sacrifice, but it does require a bit of homework and thought to take advantage of the best the industry has to offer today.

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